AFC wants BNS pitch improved

The Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS), the country's lone FIFA and AFC certified venue, is not up to the standard to host international matches, opined an AFC match commissioner following the AFC Cup play-off qualifier between Saif SC and TC Sports Club last month.

“The AFC recently instructed us to improve the ground's condition and make it playable before the March 7 AFC Cup match between Abahani and New Radiant Club of Maldives as the AFC match commissioner, after the match between Saif SC and TC Sports Club, reported that the BNS ground is not up to the mark to host international matches,” informed Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.

During the match on January 23, players from both sides struggled to control the ball on a bouncy BNS pitch, which last season hosted 170 fixtures of the Federation Cup, Bangladesh Premier League and Independence Cup apart from matches of the Bangladesh Championship League, Pioneer Football League and JFA U-14 Women's Football tournament.

Shohag informed that they have taken initiatives to improve the ground's standard since February 17 such as planting grass, watering the pitch and utilising fertilizers.

Groundsman Chand Mia said the pitch turned bouncy due to the use of heavy rollers once a week.

“As we don't have any light roller to level the ground, we are forced to roll the ground with a 10-ton roller of the City Corporation, so the ground turns bouncy. The problem will not arise if we have a light roller,” said Chand, adding that the BNS had light rollers but those were shifted to Mirpur once cricket was shifted to Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

However, Chand is optimistic about making it softer and greener by March 5 ahead of the match on March 7.